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Being able to draw on a deep meaningful emotional memory that is articulated with clarity, will help us keep powers in check. We want an inclusive society of manifest difference, not a forced legislative sameness.

I’m reminded of the life of a fellow sufferer many moons ago, St. Paul. He was beaten, he was stoned, he was thrown in prison, all for the hope of reconciling opposing cultural paradigms. He believed that prejudice in people could end and be replaced by flourishing communities of togetherness.

Where buildings had once fallen, now living souls have fallen into the rubble of anguish and suffering and the dust has stormed across the whole country. This time it’s different. It’s deeper. It’s a level of suffering we are not familiar with, yet it has brought a level of unprecedented togetherness.

It’s a big deal when State Representatives visit other countries. So it was only appropriate the magisterial Magi popped in for a cuppa with Kiingi Herod, te mauri o te motu, as Herod would like to believe. He had dodged bullets hard-out and manoeuvred alliances to keep himself as the Royal (with) Cheese of Israel.

Let’s take a look as to who was present around the birth of Jesus: Mary; Joseph; animals; shepherds and Iranian Astrologers. Now let’s just make a note as to who was not there: the big-wig religious leaders of the day. Which in hindsight is unusual considering the 2000-year-old-tradition bent on the opinion that Jewish religion held the exclusive rights to God Inc. Yet no-one of the ‘Cloth’ was to be found at His birthday.

Ok, before we get too excited here, let’s be frank: a virgin birth is nuts! We’re not here to debate biology and magic, but to work with the story the storyteller told. So let’s look for a moment at an unsung hero of the Christmas story, St. Joseph, the patron saint of Chippies (well, of all workers to be precise).

The Hebrew word for soul, is nephesh. It is described as soul, life, living being, person, appetite, desire, passion and emotion.. The Hebrew language uses the same word to describe both the souls of animals and people. And it is important to note that nephesh doesn’t refer to just a compartment of our being, but the totality of who we are: mind, will, emotion, body, spirit.

In an over use of our analytical tendencies, the Western worldview has created a division between physical realities and spiritual ones. This separation creates what is called a dualism: two independent ideas assumed to be opposites of each other. Yet the Christian faith was founded in a culture that didn’t think that way or have any tension between the seen and unseen.

Our Christian history is filled with brave characters, who had unique encounters with God and did amazing things, things that we rightly admire and celebrate. But many of these same heroes also acted out dumb ideas because their own cultural presuppositions were left unchallenged. So, in the quest of remembering and to aid us as we create the future, let me share some examples of how an unchecked worldview can trip us up.

Patrick was a man who deeply learned from an indigenous European culture that was not his own, and in embracing indigeneity become a Christian minister of exception. He set a precedent that followers of Christ would do well to follow.

Well by now, many of you are aware that I have changed my name, either that or people are wondering who Jay Ruka is? When it comes to those who know me, those who know the book and then those, like say, the lady at the post office - depending on the person and the scenario people know me by differing names...

Alistair Reese is a theologian and historian with particular focus on social reconciliation. He works with Te Kohinga Reconciliation Network in Tauranga. Through the lens of the Christian gospel and recognition of New Zealand history, this network seeks to strengthen the relationship between Māori and Pākehā in this region.

It has been a long time in the making and we are pleased to announce that our book Huia Come Home has finally arrived. We had our first book launch in Taranaki over the weekend, surrounded by friends and family at Ōwae Marae.